They penalise mums and dads travelling with just their kids, singletons, divorced people and the widowed.

Package deals can cost up to a third more than for families and cruises almost double.

On top of that, many tour operators offer “free child places” only if two paying adults are travelling together.

Costa Dorada was just one of the areas where single holidaymakers were being forced to pay more (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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The supplements are passed on to tour companies or travel agents by hotels and liners, which claim they lose revenue in bar takings and on excursions with single travellers.

But with an ageing population and almost two million single parents in Britain, campaigners say it’s time supplements were sent packing.

Our research found a seven-night Airtours holiday in Spain’s Costa Dorada cost £547 a head for a couple and child. But where there was only one adult, it rose to £600 each.

A Jet2 Holidays stay in Majorca cost £537 and £677 respectively while a Tui holiday in Malta was £628 and £702.

A cabin for a Med cruise with Royal Caribbean was £1,180 for a couple but £1,569 for a single occupant.

Bagging an Instagram photo like this might cost you a hefty sum (Image: Getty Images)

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In one case a widower faced paying £2,600 to scatter his wife’s ashes in Cape Verde, compared to the £2,800 it had cost them both to go. Anant Naik, of single parent support group Gingerbread, said: “Many single parents miss out on holidays because they can’t afford the extra costs. We’d like to see deals tailored to them instead of outdated, unfair pricing structures.”

Vicky Anning of charity Widowed and Young said: “Many members have been charged almost the equivalent of a second person to go on their own. It’s a bit like rubbing salt in the wound.”

Labour MP Rupa Huq, head of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Single Parent Families, said: “Travel companies need to wake up to the fact that not everyone lives in happy families with 2.3 children and a dog.”

The Association of British Travel Agents said tour operators are working with hotels to get lower rates for single travellers “wherever possible” and that many newer hotels and ships offer more one-person accommodation.